Reflect on random acts of kindness

Tuesday

Dec 31, 2013 at 6:07 PM

Happy New Year's Eve!If you're anything like me, you spend the last few days of the year not only thinking about your goals for the next 364 days, but also about what you did or accomplished in the last 364 days.Many years ago I would get melancholy and maybe even feel a little bit embarrassed when I thought about the year I was closing out and realized I hadn't done anything of great significance. As I've gotten older, the goals I used to have for myself — losing weight, traveling more, watching less television, not eating out as much — have become more difficult to achieve. The pounds don't come off as easily as they did 20 years ago; traveling requires a lot more planning and cash than it used to; with the advent of DVR there is always something on television I like; going through a drive-through or meeting my family after work for a hamburger or pizza is just easier than having to cook and clean up when I've worked a 13-hour day.I decided last year that I was going to stop setting myself up for failure. I was going to remember the little things I did each year that made me — or someone else — happy.If you're beating yourself up thinking you have absolutely nothing to show for 2013, consider these ideas:• Did you help an elderly person by holding a door or getting something off a high shelf at the grocery store for them? If you did, it likely felt like nothing to you — but I'd be willing to bet the person you helped was exceedingly grateful and possibly even told someone what you did for them.• Did you let your spouse or significant other take a nap on a Sunday afternoon while you tended to the children, made dinner or cleaned the house? I don't know about you, but I often find raising children and maintaining a household to be exhausting. When my husband gives me the gift of a hour or two by myself to just relax in the quiet, I am very thankful.• Did you pick up one of those pre-made flower bouquets at the grocery store and give it to someone "just because?" Women of all ages love flowers … especially when they get them for no particular reason. Once in a while when I'm shopping, I'll put a bouquet of sunny blooms in the cart and take them to my mother. The smile on her face is really more for me than it is for her, but she does seem to like it when I bring her flowers.• Did you volunteer as a classroom helper for a child you love? Elementary school children love to have visitors they know in their classrooms. It gives them a chance to not only show you where they go each school day, introduce you to their teachers and show you what they're learning — it also gives them a chance to show you off to their friends. Being loved by a child is an awesome feeling.• Did you post a funny e-card or meme on a friend's Facebook wall? There were some days this past year that I could have done without — but for some reason my best friend Emily always managed to post something hilarious to my wall that made me laugh on those days. If you shared one of these things with a friend, you very well could have been the bright spot for them in an otherwise cruddy day.• Did you compliment someone on their hairdo/sweater/smile? A well-placed kind word can make someone's day. We've all, at one time or another, been horrified by someone's new hair or horrible jacket — and probably didn't hesitate to make a remark about it to someone other than the person wearing them. We should be as quick with compliments as we are with criticisms.• Did you adopt a cat or dog from an animal shelter? People who do this are my heroes. I am so impressed by the Humane Society of Branch County … it seems like my Facebook newsfeed always contains at least one photo of a puppy or kitty going home with his or her new family. Even if you're not in a position to adopt a pet, the shelter always welcomes volunteers … so you can play with and love on these animals until permanent homes are found for them. If you're one of those people who took a new pet home or went out to the shelter to volunteer in 2013, give yourself a hand. You did something phenomenal.See? Chances are you did some good every single day of 2013. Perhaps you opened a jar of pickles for someone who couldn't do it; maybe you let another car in ahead of you as you were leaving a concert or sporting event.Whichever, look back and know that even if the last year was a succession of small good deeds rather than great big accomplishments, you probably touched the hearts of people you may not even know.I wish you all a 2014 filled with random acts of kindness — done by you and for you.Jamie Barrand is the executive editor of The Daily Reporter, Hillsdale Daily News, Bronson Journal and Jonesville Independent. Follow her on Twitter at @editorbarrand.